A new study from Community Healthcare Network (a New York City-based nonprofit that provides medical services and outreach and education programs to 75,000 individuals a year) was released this week that reports on the attitudes and knowledge about HIV/AIDS of men who have sex with men (MSM) and who meet their partners through the use of social networking apps (ie: Grindr, Scruff, Manhunt, and Growlr).

According to the study (titled: “Zero Feet Away: Perspective on HIV/AIDS and Unprotected Sex in Men Who Have Sex with Men Utilizing Location-based Mobile Apps,” nearly half of surveyed gay and bisexual men are knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS, and are afraid of getting infected or re-infected with the virus, yet regardless they admit to participating in risk-taking activities like unprotected anal intercourse.

In total, 725 people who use the aforementioned apps were surveyed and they found that there was a clear disconnect between why men still engage in unprotected sex and the way prevention attempts try to address changing this behavior. Read the bulleted list of their findings below.

Buuuuuullshit on 50% or so ALWAYS using condoms. That
Number is closer to 5. Self response scales are so sadly limited.

Andrew

I feel a significant reason for continued unsafe sexual practices among the current generation, is because they have not had to live through the initial wave back in the 80s and 90s when people pretty much died from hiv/aids. They have not had to experience the loss of friends and loved ones, nor actually see or know anyone who is sick and suffering from KS, etc. The knowledge that hiv/aids is a manageable illness with current drugs and medication, has also made many complacent about safer sex practises.

Alex

Why is there always someone like Andrew with these convoluted theories? It’s real simple. People fuck bare for the same reason they always have – pre and post HIV genesis; because the temptation to get the maximum pleasure from sex is more often than not overwhelming. Sometimes, you can resist, but it’s extremely difficult. Sex is a powerful thing.